G. Vijayalakshmi, v. The Secretary,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 28.06.2017
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.RAJA W.P.No.16177 of 2017 G.Vijayalakshmi ...
Petitioner -vs1. The Secretary Social Welfare Department Fort St.George Chennai 600 009
2. The District Collector Villupuram District Villupuram
3. The Commissioner Panchayat Union Thiyagadurugam Panchayat Kallakurichi Taluk Villupuram District ...
Respondents Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issue of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the second and third respondents to consider the petitioner's representations dated 06.02.2017 and 29.05.2017 seeking for the post of Noon Meal Organizer under the noon meal scheme in Thiyagadurugam Panchayat Union School or any other nearest place within the Kallakurichi Taluk.
For Petitioner:: Mr.V.R.Kamalanathan For Respondents:: Mr.M.Dig Vijaya Pandian Additional Government Pleader for R1 & 2 Mr.K.Balamurugan Government Advocate for R3
ORDER
The petitioner is a widow and a certificate to this effect has also been issued by the revenue authority on 12.9.2012. She has passed both SSLC and Higher Secondary Course from the Government Girls Higher Secondary School. Her husband, who was a practising lawyer in Kallakurichi Court, suddenly died on 29.7.2012, leaving the petitioner to take care of the family responsibility. While so, in response to an advertisement issued by the respondents for the post of Noon Meal Organizer in Chinnasalem Panchayat Union during the year 2006, she applied as one of the eligible candidates. Therefore, she was invited to take part in the interview. Although the petitioner took part in the selection process, she was not considered. Hence the petitioner came to this Court with W.P.No.1779 of 2007 and this Court, by order dated 19.1.
2001, disposed of the same giving liberty to the petitioner to take part in the fresh selection process in the nearby village. On the basis of the said order, the petitioner also applied on 4.6.2012. Again the petitioner was not considered. In the meanwhile, the third respondent issued a communication dated 19.1.2017 directing the petitioner to appear for interview on 31.1.2017 along with all original certificates. Accordingly, she appeared for the interview on 31.1.2017 and submitted all the original certificates. But the third respondent, after verifying the certificates, returned the same and thereafter there was no response from the respondents about her selection or non-selection. After waiting for a long time, she has given a representation requesting to provide her a job on priority basis. But there is no response.
Therefore, the petitioner has come to this Court seeking a direction to the respondents to consider her as a preferential candidate.
2. Mr.M.Dig Vijaya Pandian, learned Additional Government Pleader, taking notice on behalf of the first and second respondents, and Mr.K.Balamurugan, learned Government Advocate, taking notice on behalf of the third respondent, sought time to consider the pending representation.
3. The petitioner is admittedly a widow, as she lost her husband on 29.7.2012. Although many times she appeared for the interview for the post of Noon Meal Organizer, it is not known why her candidature was not considered. In any event, since she had appeared for the post of Noon Meal Organizer in response to the communication issued by the third respondent dated
19.1.2017, the respondents are directed to consider her case on priority basis, considering the certificate issued by the revenue authority and all other relevant documents, before finalising the selection of candidates for the said post. With this observation, the writ petition stands disposed of. No costs.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS IV) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar ss To
1. The Secretary Social Welfare Department Fort St.George Chennai 600 009
2. The District Collector Villupuram District Villupuram
3. The Commissioner Panchayat Union Thiyagadurugam Panchayat Kallakurichi Taluk Villupuram District +1cc to M/S.V.R.Kamalanathan, Advocate Sr.44873 +1cc to the Government Pleader Sr.45321 W.P.No.16177 of 2017 srg 13/07/2017